Hi! Thanks for visiting! This blog is here to be a place to escape to for comfort like visiting a friend for a cozy cup tea on a cold day or putting on your comfy rabbit slippers after a long hard day. We can explore the world together in our hearts, our homes, and around us. Since I like and have several rabbits I would also like to share them with you! I want you to share your world with me too! Thanks for joining us and I hope you come back quite often!

Pages

Search This Blog

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The 14th Day of Christmas: The Bunnies of Christmas

It's a pleasure to be sharing in this special blog share, The 25
Days of Christmas, started by the Parga's Junkyard Blog. I hope you
check out the other blog posts sharing the holiday season with 24
bloggers who have joined forces to make this season a bit more magical..25 Days of Christmas

The Bunnies of Christmas...

Often
the Holidays can be a difficult or lonely time for those who have no
family or friends nearby, or are left behind because it is difficult to
manage having one come to visit for a holiday visit-perhaps due to
constraints of illness. Or sadder still, whether through ill family
relations or neglectful family, the elderly or disabled family member
is left behind.It is usually difficult for an elderly
or sick person in a nursing home, hospital, or assisted living
facility, who receives few or no visits, to watch others receive visits
or go out during the holiday season. I have seen this first hand,
having worked in nursing homes, a rehab hospital and mental health
facility for about 18 years. Even the smallest gesture is appreciated
by these people and can mean a lot.

On the other hand,
the warmth of a hug, for example, is nice when given by perhaps a staff
person or visitor from a church, it is not always the same as when
these people participate in interactions with animals. There is
something about animals, that for most people will let them feel even
more relaxed and free to enjoy the interaction than with people they
aren't as familiar with. Often times the results are amazing!

For
years, I have participated in pet therapy programs with various animals
owned by facilities or more often with bringing in my own houserabbits
(litterbox trained and all!). Come share this recent holiday season
visit at an assisted living facility and feel the holiday magic
yourself with the bunnies of Christmas!

A group
was already assembled when we arrived. Two bunnies, Grumbellina, a
diva, a six year old not-so-mini Mini Lop breed and a male Angora
(trimmed down) named Goldilocks (we thought he was a girl at first! And
he was so pretty!) went with me to participate in the visit to my
mother-in-law's assisted living facility.

We let Goldilocks have the run of the room for he is quite social and good at making the rounds! One lady was quite taken with Goldilocks and at one point, with my help, scooped him up to hold him, which is something he loves! I gave raisins to a few ladies who were interested in giving one to Goldilocks as he made his rounds about the room. A couple of ladies felt frustrated that he wouldn't take raisins right away, but he eventually did and he pleased his public!

Grumbellina, the black and white diva made the rounds with me visiting
with people who held her or wanted to pet or touch her, depending on
their comfort level.

During the holiday season, these visits can make an extra special difference because of the instant unconditional love and rapport most people seem to have with the rabbits. It is special because it is a two way interaction that brings about the the touch, the socialization among the human peers and with the rabbits. Bunny visits are also special during great one on one.

It is often done in a resident's or patient's room for loners or perhaps bed-ridden people. It also makes a setting less clinical or institutional. It makes it feel more like home.

During this visit, we also answered questions about rabbits, which brought about much laughter. The visiting continued while the facility person passed out some "Eggnog bars" they made earlier in the day.

Still, like with people, we can all feel a little tired and welcome a little private space with a bit of quiet time to ourselves. This is one reason, it is a good idea to bring more than one rabbit during visits with more than a few people. The rabbits can take breaks and also share the "workload". Grumbellina didn't want to visit as much on her own, making as many rounds as Goldilocks did, after being held. She visited a bit then ran away for some privacy under a chair.

The bunnies and the people seemed to truly enjoy their visit. The bunnies enjoyed some extra special treats as reward for their work and a bit of quiet time if they wanted it when they went home.

This special time makes the people the bunnies visited feel more like the special people they really are.

Please "like" Rabbit Slippers Blog on Face Book to keep up with the latest postings and events.
You can also sign up by e-mail notices at the top right of the page. (Your privacy is important to Rabbit Slippers).
You can also follow through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs, both located in the right side bar.
Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts! Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!